See.

It's beautiful.

Will started at the new surroundings, momentarily forgetting where he was and how he got here. Cuba, just as Hannibal had pointed out, not far from where they began yet can never return, a place to begin again. Letting the sun warm his body, Will listened to the bustling of the streets outside and the movements inside the little house he and Hannibal had managed to obtain. Hannibal must be awake. He didn't want to get up and break the surreal weight of serenity that was settled around him. Or maybe he wasn't entirely certain what was waiting for him on the other side of the door.

Hannibal stood in the small kitchen, the scent of the ocean and the sounds of instruments wafting through the windows. He knew Will was awake by the jerk of the bed he had caused but left him alone to contemplate the decisions he made and where they were now. Instead, he stood in the kitchen with his coffee and his thoughts and a small smile on his face as he watched out the window as life hurried by their house.

Eventually, Will made his way to the common area, hesitating when he found Hannibal putting on his shoes by the door.

"Hannibal?" His body froze like stone as Will's voice quietly called to him. A soft melody pulling him in. He dared to cast his eyes on Will, hoping not to curse himself further, the feeling of his body still haunting his hands from their embrace on the cliffside. A pull too fierce Hannibal had to look away. He wondered if Will knew how many times he had been the first to turn away from their connection, turn away from the overwhelming feeling of the unrequited. He wondered if he himself even knew how many times.

"Good to see you up, Will."

"Um, I've been up for a while. Cuba is nicer than I expected. Sunnier, and um…" Will trailed off. He kept his thoughts to himself, that he wasn't sure what they would do next. He knew what brought them there but what was next was unknown and that was something that Will always struggled to accept, unknowns. His job was finding the unknown and bringing it to the light. His job was. Things are different now. He's chosen a different life.

Hannibal saw the uncertainty in Will, his voice, his words, his body. Part of him, the part that enjoyed watching Will squirm, wanted to stay quiet and let him try to dig his way out of the hole he was about to bury himself in. The other part, the side that saw Will's discomfort and wanted to relieve it. He let this side win and took pity, giving Will an out.

"Do you want to come and get breakfast?"


A pocket-sized cafe tucked away into the crowded streets filled with people hungry for their breakfast, at the table in the corner sat Hannibal and Will letting the conversations of others envelope them. Their meals were placed in front of them gently and they each ate quietly, Hannibal his breakfast hash and Will his toast and eggs. The world passed by them but not without observation and attention.

Will had been watching Hannibal staring out the window each time someone passed. He felt a run up his spine and a need for those eyes to fall on him. Pushing away that feeling, he called to him away, keeping his voice soft like he did before they left.

"Hannibal?" Dark eyes flew to him like lightning, an intense gaze holding the stare, smile sliding across his face before fading. A slight tilt of his head, a sweep of his eyes, and now Will was studying Hannibal, trying to discern what was running through his head, what he could possibly be thinking. It was rare moments like this, and only with Hannibal, that Will couldn't read him, couldn't figure him out. He knew what Hannibal's motives were at times, just not what the end game looked like.

"Will?" Those dark eyes were radiant with something now. A new game, a new plan, something he was curious about which always led them down dangerous paths. He leaned in close, like he was about to whisper secrets to Hannibal, ones others weren't allowed to hear.

"You should pay for the food," and he got up to walk outside. Hannibal huffed a laugh, amused at Will's playing him, small taunt, bringing him in with interest only to trick. It was very mischievous, something he might be able to mold if Will is pliable. Someone he could build into the person he so greatly missed.